Churches in Winter by Robert 'Harry' Fort

Painting

-

Saugatuck Douglas Historical Society

Oil painting of a winter scene in Saugatuck

Oil painting of a winter scene in Saugatuck

Name/Title

Churches in Winter by Robert 'Harry' Fort

Entry/Object ID

2011.20.01

Description

Robert 'Harry' Fort, "Churches in Winter", no date - Oil on canvas. This whimsical scene shows children playing in Griffith Street at the corner of Mason. Fort lived at that intersection and often painted scenes he could see from his porch at the Newnham House. Olivet College - notes on the artist: "Born in Bloomington, Illinois, Robert H. Fort was living in Chicago by 1890 and was soon listed as a commercial artist. His artistic training is unknown. He first visited the Saugatuck, Michigan area in 1904 and by a1915 ha had moved there with his family. Having eye troubles, the artist took up boat building and carpentry but later returned to painting. In later years he lived with his sister on Griffith Street where he painted many scenes he could see from her front porch. The artist was also an early member of the Saugatuck Art Association."

Type of Painting

Easel

Artwork Details

Medium

Oil

Collection

Artworks, Childhood, Churches and religion, Winter

Cataloged By

Voss, Mary

Acquisition

Accession

2011.20

Source or Donor

Saugatuck, City (government after 1985)

Acquisition Method

Donation

Made/Created

Artist

Fort, Robert "Harry" 1875-1954

Date made

1950 - 1955

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Notes

Signed Name: Robert H. Fort Signature Location: bottom right

Lexicon

Search Terms

Saugatuck Art Association, church

Dimensions

Height

22 in

Width

24 in

Dimension Notes

Frame Size: 29l x 26w

Location

Shelf

AC bay 14

Room

Art Conservation Room

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Saugatuck United Methodist Church 1884-

Exhibition

Rediscovering a Michigan Painter

Interpretative Labels

Label

From "Robert Fort: Rediscovering a Michigan Artist" at the OSH 2020 Robert Harry Fort 1875 – 1954 Untitled (Churches in Winter) undated | oil on canvas In this scene Fort captures the aftermath of a heavy snow. Children pull a sled across Griffith Street in Saugatuck. To the left, we see the Methodist Church at the corner of Mason Street. The Congregational Church looms in the background. Collection: City of Saugatuck, on permanent loan to the Saugatuck Douglas History Center, 2011.20 Gift of Ruth Newnham-Dunmire and Joy Faulkner

General Notes

Note

Status: OK Status By: Mary Voss Status Date: 2012-01-09

Create Date

January 9, 2012

Update Date

September 4, 2024